A single Powerball ticket holder in Arkansas has landed a staggering $1.82 billion (£1.43bn) jackpot, making it the second-largest win in the history of the US lottery.
The festive-season victory has triggered worldwide headlines, with many in the UK once again asking how American lottery prizes can grow so large compared with those at home.
The winning numbers drawn on Wednesday night were 4, 25, 31, 52, 59, with Powerball 19. Only one ticket matched all six numbers, ending weeks of rollovers.
Why is this Powerball win such a big deal?
This is not just another lottery story. The size of the prize places it among the biggest individual gambling wins ever recorded.
The winner now faces a life-changing choice. They can take the full $1.82bn paid out over 29 years, or opt for a one-off cash payment of $834.9m, before US federal tax is applied.
Historically, most Powerball winners choose the lump sum, even though it is significantly smaller on paper.
A Powerball spokesperson confirmed the details shortly after the draw, saying the ticket was sold in Arkansas and that the payout decision rests entirely with the player.
How hard is it to win the Powerball jackpot?
Winning Powerball is famously difficult. The odds of matching all six numbers sit at 1 in 292,201,338, far longer than those of the UK National Lottery, where players face odds of around 1 in 45 million.
These extreme odds are intentional. Powerball is designed to roll over repeatedly, allowing jackpots to grow to extraordinary levels before a winner finally emerges. That structure is the main reason US lottery prizes regularly dwarf those seen in the UK.
Where does this jackpot rank in Powerball history?
Only one Powerball prize has ever been larger. In November 2022, Edwin Castro won a record $2.04bn in California. The latest Arkansas win overtakes the $1.78bn jackpot shared by two players in Missouri and Texas in September 2023.
Those earlier winners both chose the cash option, taking home just over $410m each, and remained anonymous thanks to state laws. Whether the latest winner will do the same is not yet known.
Is there any Christmas connection to this win?
Interestingly, Powerball jackpots are rarely won around Christmas. The last time a grand prize fell on Christmas Eve was back in 2011, when a $128.8m ticket was sold in Maryland.
That winner also stayed anonymous, adding to the mythology that often surrounds major US lottery victories.
Can people in the UK actually play Powerball?
For UK residents, the answer is no, at least not directly. Powerball is only open to players who are physically present in the United States and meet local eligibility rules.
Some online services claim to buy US lottery tickets on behalf of international customers, but these operate outside the UK Gambling Commission’s regulation.
Consumer groups in Britain regularly warn players to be cautious, as protections are far weaker than with UK-licensed lotteries.
By contrast, the UK’s biggest draw, EuroMillions, has a capped jackpot currently set at €250m, roughly £214m, highlighting just how different the two systems are.
Why are US lottery jackpots so much bigger than UK prizes?
The answer lies in regulation. US lotteries like Powerball allow jackpots to roll over indefinitely until someone wins, while UK lotteries are subject to prize caps and “must-win” draws once limits are reached.
Powerball also operates across 45 US states, along with Washington DC and Puerto Rico, creating a massive player base. More tickets sold means more money in the prize pot, and eventually, billion-dollar jackpots.
